Military Education News And Info

Stay up-to-date with news and information about your military education. You can get the information you need to make informed decisions about your online and military correspondence programs. Learn what's going on with military education and how you can make a smooth military transition. Your civilian career awaits you!

Make the most of your service -- the new G.I. Bill pays more and lets you transfer benefits. The VA is now accepting applications for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. This new educational benefits package, known as Chapter 33, offers additional benefits beyond paying for tuition -- including a new housing stipend.

The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill goes into effect on August 1, 2009. You are eligible if you served a minimum of 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001. You don't have to pay into this benefit each month; and you can transfer your benefits to your spouse or children.

What You'll Get

- Full tuition and fees
- Monthly housing stipend*
- Money for books and supplies
- Transferability of entitlement
- Kicker -- if you receive it now, you'll still get it with the new benefits

The amount paid under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill will vary depending on your state of residence, number of units taken, and amount of post-9/11 active-duty service.
Here are the percentages that are available:

Percentage of Payment -- Amount of Military Service
100% -- 36 or more months
100% -- 30 or more consecutive days with disability-related discharge
90% -- 30 total months
80% -- 24 total months
70% -- 18 total months
60% -- 12 total months
50% -- 6 total months
40% -- 90 or more days

The Department of Veterans Affairs started accepting applications on May 1, 2009. If you are already enrolled in the Montgomery G.I. Bill and also meet the criteria for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, you have the option to transfer your remaining MGIB benefits to the new program. Although the new bill offers comprehensive benefits, you may find that the original Montgomery G.I. Bill better suits your needs.

One of the biggest additions of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill is the option for service members to transfer their benefits -- if you are an active-duty service member with at least six years of experience, you can shift your G.I. Bill benefits to your spouse or children if you commit to at least four additional years of service.

You can enroll online at www.gibill.va.gov or call (888) 501-5221 to learn how you can make the most of your new benefits. Your educational options just got better -- enroll in a certificate program without paying anything, plus receive additional benefits.

*Restrictions apply
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Posted by Heather Brunson @ 3:28 PM • 1 comments

When we think of war veterans, many people picture graying old men who fought in Europe during World War II or in Korea. Yet nowadays we must remember that there are thousands of young men and women in America who are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These younger veterans often have service-related injuries that hamper their efforts to find and hold good-paying jobs. To help these men and women, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) offers veterans a vocational rehabilitation program known as Chapter 31.

What services does the DVA provide for this special group of veterans?

  • Rehabilitation evaluation to assess a person's skills
  • Counseling and rehabilitation planning
  • Job finding skills like resume help and interviewing
  • Help finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives
  • On-the-Job Training (OJT) and apprenticeships
  • Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
  • Case management, counseling and referral services


Who can take advantage of this program?

    The veteran must have:
  • an honorable discharge
  • a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%
  • completed an application for the program

The DVA then sets up appointments with vocational rehabilitation counselors who will interview the veteran and determine whether the veteran can receive services. The counselors will look at the veteran's disabilities and consider how they will impact the person's skill set.

Once the DVA has a good handle on a veteran's situation, they will set up a rehabilitation plan which will lay out a strategy for getting that individual retrained, if necessary, and ready to secure a new position.

If veterans need career retraining, one option that counselors and veterans can look at is online vocational schools with vocational rehabilitation training programs. A veteran can enroll in an online program and train for a career as a real estate agent, medical coder or a pharmacy technician, for example, and all from the comfort of their home with 100% online courses.

This distance education option often solves a lot of problems for veterans like commuting to a campus, securing reliable transportation, as well as finding babysitters or family friends who can help with children. 100% online career training is a great way for veterans to retrain and prepare themselves for a new career.

Online schools normally offer student support representatives that veterans can call during business hours if they have any questions about their course or are experiencing any technical difficulties.

When looking at online vocational rehabilitation schools, veterans and their counselors should make sure that the school is nationally accredited by an accrediting body such as the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Veterans should also speak with a school's admissions representative and ask how long the school has been in business, and whether they accept state or federal vocational rehabilitation training vouchers.

And of course there is nothing like "word-of-mouth" information; veterans should ask fellow disabled veterans for a school recommendation – there's nothing like an endorsement from someone you trust!

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 2:18 PM • 0 comments

Each year over 250,000 military personnel and families leave their respective service and enter civilian life. While some decide to retire, most people intend to start a new career. The goal is to make a smooth transition from your active-duty military career to a new career in the civilian world.

The Transition Plan

A military transition plan will give your civilian career direction, and help alleviate any overwhelming or confused feelings you may have about your future. The military provided you with a strong skill set and favorable job traits. A transition plan can arm you with the extra training you need to become a professional in the civilian workplace.

Career Training

Be confident that many of the managing, motivating and maneuvering skills you learned in the military are applicable to the civilian workplace. With this solid skill set in place, it's just a matter of building on this foundation and getting new job skills. Here's how you can plan ahead:

1. Make a list of your military skills -- Write down your job title and duties from your military service. Include detailed tasks that you were required to perform. Be specific. Incorporate skills, qualifications, experience, awards, education and anything that is relevant to your military career.

2. Determine how those skills translate to the civilian workplace -- Match your military skills to jobs or professions outside of the military. You can use a military occupational classification (MOC) guide to help you identify these jobs. This information is readily available via the Internet, resource guides and books.

3. Get the extra skills you need -- You can acquire the additional skills that will make you marketable in your post-military career. Choose something with long-term potential, such as a real estate salesperson, home inspector, small business owner, or medical billing specialist. Your military training and new career skills will make you a well-rounded addition to the civilian workforce.

Job Preparation

Once you complete your career training, you need to focus on your job search. This is a vital part of the transition process when you bridge your military career with your new civilian career. Find a school that offers job assistance to make your transition easier. You'll learn how to:

-Create an effective cover letter -- This is the first impression you provide to a potential employer. Provide a concise description of how your skills will apply to a particular position in a company. Make it clear how your military experience is applicable to this job and what unique experience you can bring to a company.

-Write a stand-out resume -- This is a culmination of your work experience. Create an effective summary of your job history by listing all of the relevant work you have performed. Try to avoid using military terms, jargon and acronyms that employers will not know. Make your resume reader-friendly. Incorporate any awards, recognitions and achievements.

-Conduct a successful interview -- If you create an effective cover letter and resume, this will be the next step. Make sure you are prepared by practicing your answers to common interview questions. Dress in appropriate attire and conduct yourself in a professional manner.

You've had a successful military career. Now is the time to take the next step and mobilize your talents. Making the transition from military to civilian life doesn't need to be difficult. With careful strategic planning and preparation, you can successfully move into the next phase of your career.

Click here to learn more about Military Education.

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Posted by Heather Brunson @ 4:02 PM • 0 comments

If you are currently a service member or considering joining the military, you've probably heard about the G.I. Bill, but what you may not be familiar with is the G.I. Bill Kicker Program -- also known as the Army, Navy College or Marine Corps College Funds.

The G.I. Bill Kicker, offered by the Department of Defense through each service branch, is an educational benefit that is added to the G.I. Bill. It is an additional amount of money that increases your basic monthly benefit and is included in your monthly G.I. Bill payment from the VA. Think of it as extra money for your education.

College funds are only made available when you first enlist as a service member or as part of a re-enlistment contract. The amount that is received is determined by a number of factors, such as when you enlisted, length of enlistment contract, service that was joined, the job that was chosen and specific location.

The good news is that these kickers can increase your monthly GI Bill payment rate by hundreds of dollars a month -- putting your military education within reach. This means that you can actually boost your regular G.I. Bill benefit value and earn even more for your education.

The G.I. Bill Kicker Program is an incentive, not an entitlement; therefore you must apply for and be approved to receive it. There may be specific qualifications according to your branch -- contact your military education office for details. The VA does not determine eligibility of this additional benefit; each service branch determines who receives the G.I. Bill Kicker and the amount received. Remember, you can't get your GI Bill Kicker money without receiving the GI Bill -- it isn't a separate benefit, but an add-on to your GI Bill benefit.

The GI Bill Kicker is also available if you choose to join the reserve. You must meet the current requirements and accept the Reserve GI Bill to qualify.

If you think that career training is out of reach, think again. Combining the G.I. Bill Kicker with your G.I. Bill can cover 100% of the cost of your military education. This program is an ideal way to receive the maximum benefits and build up your education fund -- making career training possible. Use these funds to enroll in an accredited online career training program today and study anywhere, any time for a high-demand career.

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Posted by Heather Brunson @ 3:08 PM • 0 comments

No matter where you grew up in the United States, you probably at one time or another watched the ball drop on New Year's Eve in New York's Time Square. Dick Clark has long since been replaced by new MCs, but there's still something special about the celebration.

After the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, there have been annual concerns that such a large gathering of people in New York is a tempting target for terrorists. The good new is that eight years later, thanks to federal police agencies, the New York Police Department and members of the New York National Guard, another end-of-year celebration has come and gone safely.

This past year New York Gov. David Paterson sent members of the New York Army and Air National Guard to assist city authorities with security, as well as standing by in case any emergency situation arose.

Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted increased security operations at Penn Station, the PATH terminal, and LaGuardia and JFK airports, in conjunction with Port Authority personnel from both New York and New Jersey.

One of the units that were ready to respond was the National Guard's 2nd Civil Support Team, a full-time rapid response element that detects chemical, biological or radiological hazards. The 22-man detachment from Schenectady, N.Y., has worked with counter terrorism elements in the New York PD since 2000.

At the New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y., staff representatives manned and operated the National Guard's Joint Operations Center over the New Year to ensure that all was peaceful. The Guard also provided liaison officers to the NYS Emergency Management Office and the New York City Police Departments.
And while party-goers dancing among the confetti and rock music may have not appreciated all the security precautions that the New York Guard and NYPD provided, the men and women who provided that security got their "thank you" in the form of a joyful end to 2008 and peaceful beginning to 2009.

And it is important for Americans to appreciate that during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Guard Soldiers and Airmen have paid a high price in both lost lives and time away from family and their civilian careers.

While the help the Guard personnel provided for the people of New York on New Year's Eve is more a traditional Guard role (i.e. responding to the needs of the Governor), Guard members have been deploying to combat zones at the behest of the federal government in numbers not seen since the wars in Vietnam and Korea.

While Guard members certainly understand that there is always the potential to be "activated" and sent overseas on 12-month deployments, this sacrifice has been asked of Guard members more and more frequently as the Wars in the Middle East continue. Many Guard members have sacrificed their civilian careers and time with growing families to serve their nation abroad.

During this New Year, Americans should be particularly grateful for both the domestic, as well as the international service, that Guard members have given the people of the United States since 2001.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 9:26 AM • 0 comments

When most people think of service in the Navy, they think of sunsets at sea or duty stations in exotic ports like Hawaii or Japan, but for a select group of Navy officers they will soon be working from the not-so-exotic location of their homes.

The initiative is part of the Navy;s Virtual Command Pilot Program, which allows a select group of officers to work from home.

"This program will allow officers to fill career-enhancing billets without necessarily having to transfer to do so," said Capt. James Oakes, in the office of the chief of naval personnel (CNP) where the jobs will be located. "The pilot offers the opportunity to reduce permanent change-of-station costs for the Navy while providing stability for Navy families. It's a win, win."

The test program will initially be open to eight officer billets. The officers selected for these billets should be self-starters, capable of working independently and maintaining open lines of communication with their supervisors via phone and email. They must be able to travel periodically to their parent commands.

"It offers individuals the opportunity to work in high-impact positions while maintaining geo-stability to support personal and family needs," said Ferguson.

While the new pilot program is open only to select group of naval officers, Navy enlisted personnel shouldn;t fret because they can study right now for a civilian career that will help them work from home or work independently instead of being tied to an office or permanent location all day.

Enlisted Sailors can take advantage of Navy Tuition Assistance (TA) to train for a number of vocational careers where they can work from home or be their own boss.

Sailors interested in a medical career can enroll in a medical transcription program and train to work at home as a medical transcriptionist. This is a true "work-at home" career that provides an important service to doctors and medical centers.

Another position that will allow a Sailor to be free from having to work in an office all day is that of a real estate agent. And while it;s certainly true that the real estate market is down these days, it;s a sure bet that it will eventually pick up. Why not position yourself to be in a position to take advantage of it when it does pick up?

Sailors can also use Tuition Assistance to train for a career as a home inspector. These days very few people buy homes without hiring a home inspector – you can be the person that home buyers and real estate agents turn to when they need expert help.
Home inspectors work in the neighborhoods of America, meeting new people in a weekly basis and participating in an industry that affects millions of Americans. A home inspection career is a great bet for Sailors who enjoy working with their hands and are comfortable with tools and enjoy learning about the parts of a house.

In addition to the careers mentioned above, Sailors can also look into training for jobs like medical coder, licensed contractor, pharmacy technician or private investigator.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 9:52 AM • 0 comments

The recession continues to move on without missing a beat, leaving banks, retailers and now even a spouse education funding program in its wake. Stars and Stripes recently reported that the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) recently changed its Spouse Tuition Assistance Program for overseas spouses, going from grants to interest-free loans.

"We’ve taken a hit," NMCRS’s Melissa Thurber told Stars and Stripes. "So instead of handing out money for grants, we’re being more responsible about the money we can give."

The NMCRS is a nonprofit organization that has helped Navy and Marine families for over a century. The new program means that the active-duty spouses of Marines and Sailors overseas will now receive an interest-free loan of $3,000 for tuition, instead of a grant. The military spouses will have two years to repay the loans.

Loans must be repaid within two years after receipt of the money. Spouses can use the money to study part-time of full-time at an accredited school online or at a traditional campus.

While the global recession has made it harder for military spouses to get loans and grants for education, there are still a number of ways that military spouses can find funds for education. One way for a spouse to receive military spouse scholarship money is by joining together with their service member spouse who is using Military Tuition Assistance (TA) to enroll at a school.

Some schools offer discounts or military spouse scholarships to the spouses of those men and women who enroll in the school using their TA funds. TA is a free benefit to service members, providing them with up $4,500 a year in education funds. Military spouses should ask their service member spouse to contact the school they are attending, and learn if military spouses receive any kind of discount or scholarship.

Military spouses whose service members spouses are not taking advantage of TA funds to go to school, should make sure their spouses know about the benefit. TA money is not a loan or a reimbursement program – it is money that a service member has earned through his or her service to the country. And the really attractive part of TA is that the military pays the schools directly, so military families do not need to pay for anything out-of pocket.

When speaking with an admission representative from an accredited school, service members should ask about military spouse scholarships or discounts. There may be an opportunity for the service member and spouse to enroll in career training programs without paying tuition.

Many people during a recession decide that additional education is a vital way to stand out in a crowded, competitive workplace. Military Tuition Assistance and related military spouse aid programs are a great way for military families to prepare for tough economic realities.

Military spouses should also check out the local military spouses/wives clubs at their local base. Many of these clubs, in an effort to promote military spouse educational opportunities, offer scholarships for the wives and husbands of active-duty personnel stationed at the installation.

A visit to the base ESO is a great place to start learning about the career and educational opportunities that are available for military spouses.

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Posted by Allied Blogger Admin @ 3:43 PM • 0 comments